In 2024, Charli XCX transformed from a pop outsider into a defining force in mainstream music with the release of her sixth studio album, Brat. The album’s explosive popularity pushed the 32-year-old artist into new heights of fame, challenging her status as a countercultural icon while reshaping her identity in the pop landscape.
Released on June 7, Brat captured Charli’s unapologetically messy, vibrant persona and provided a sharp contrast to the self-care anthems dominating pop. Fueled by chaotic drug references, ironic humor, and a deep embrace of contradictions, Brat became the year’s breakout album. Its remix companion, Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat, cemented her cultural ascent, featuring collaborations with Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Bon Iver.
Charli’s Warholian approach to fame—treating it as an artistic playground—was on full display. She blurred lines between irony and sincerity, delivering music that resonated widely but still felt niche. Her pop-punk anthem “Sympathy Is a Knife” took aim at perfection, with critics speculating that it targeted Taylor Swift, symbolizing Charli’s deliberate positioning as an alternative to mainstream stardom.
However, her rise wasn’t without its pitfalls. By November, with a widely panned Saturday Night Live performance and increasing corporate sponsorships, Charli’s edgy, underground image began to waver. While her year-long ride as pop’s rebellious “Brat” electrified the music world, it also raised a pressing question: Can Charli maintain her subversive identity while seated at pop’s center stage?
As 2025 approaches, Charli XCX faces the ultimate challenge of balancing her artistry with the demands of stardom—a test that could define her next era.